Phoenix Flag Raised at Midnight on the 29th
All Official Emblems and Name Changed to "Blue House"
First "Tea Time" Held in Main Building Reception Room
President to Inspect National Crisis Management Center
Main Office Relocated to Yeomin Building 1 to Address "Walled Palace" Concerns
All Three Chief Secretaries to Work in Yeomin Building 1 for Better Communication
Policy of Transparent Governance to Continue
Presidential Residence Relocation Expected to Take Several More Months
President Lee Jaemyung will leave the Yongsan presidential office and begin his official duties at the Blue House, where the phoenix flag-the symbol of Korea’s head of state-will be raised starting at midnight on December 29. The phoenix flag is always flown at the primary office of the president. This move marks a clear break from the "Yongsan era," which was marred by events such as the December 3 Martial Law and the impeachment of the president, and after 1,330 days, both the symbolic and functional roles of the national control tower are returning to the Blue House.
On this day, President Lee will depart from the official residence in Hannam-dong and commute to the Blue House, passing along a road lined on both sides with banners reading "Back to the Blue House, Into the Light of the Square." In line with the policy that "the Blue House era will fully begin in the second year of the administration," the Blue House has already changed both its name and official emblem from "Office of the President" to "Blue House." New Year’s greeting cards have also been updated to "Blue House" and sent to key figures from various sectors and national merit recipients. Kang Hoonshik, Chief Presidential Secretary, appeared on the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation’s YouTube channel and stated that next year will be a year of "leap and challenge," adding, "Our task was to reboot the Republic of Korea. Now, it feels as though the reboot is just beginning, and returning to the Blue House has become a symbol of recovery and normalization."
Upon arriving at the Blue House, President Lee will first visit the symbolic office on the second floor of the main Blue House building, and then move to the reception room to have a "morning tea time" with his aides. The main office was established in 1991 when former President Roh Tae-woo rebuilt the Blue House main building, and it has long symbolized the president’s status and authority. However, since it is about 500 meters away from Yeomin-gwan, where most aides work, in-person reports have required either a car ride or a walk of more than 15 minutes, leading to significant inefficiencies in work. This contributed to the image of the Blue House as a "walled palace."
After finishing his schedule in the main office, President Lee plans to visit the Blue House Crisis Management Center, known as the "underground bunker," to inspect restoration progress. When the Yoon Suk-yeol administration began, the National Crisis Management Center was moved to the Ministry of National Defense building in Yongsan, which exposed its previous location and security facilities, raising the need for relocation. However, the Blue House has since reinforced the facilities and plans to continue using them as is.
President Lee is then expected to move to the Yeomin Building 1 office, where he will spend most of his time and handle scheduled duties. The Yeomin Building 1 office was established so that former Presidents Roh Moo-hyun and Lee Myung-bak could meet and hold meetings with their aides at any time, and former President Moon Jae-in worked in an office on the third floor of Yeomin Building 1 from the start of his term.
To dispel concerns about the Blue House’s geographical location and structural limitations, President Lee also plans to primarily use the Yeomin Building 1 office, just as former President Moon did. The main building will be reserved for highly symbolic events such as summits, national ceremonies, and meetings with foreign guests. President Lee instructed his aides to consider ways to make the main Blue House office more efficient for work, but due to structural challenges such as high ceilings, he decided to relocate the main office instead.
At President Lee’s request, key aides have also been brought together. In Yeomin Building 1, where President Lee will conduct his daily work, all three chief secretaries-Chief Presidential Secretary Kang Hoonshik, Policy Chief Kim Yongbeom, and National Security Chief Wi Sunglak-will be based. This measure brings together the chiefs, who were previously scattered across Yeomin Buildings 1, 2, and 3 during former President Moon’s tenure, in order to move away from the traditionally authoritative image of the presidency and improve work efficiency with the Blue House as the central hub.
In addition to the three chief secretaries, Yeomin Building 1 will also house the offices of the Protocol Secretary and Speech Secretary, who work closely with the president, as well as Senior Political Secretary Woo Sangho, Senior Secretary for AI Future Planning Ha Jeongwoo, and Senior Secretary for Economic Growth Ha Junkyung. Yeomin Building 2 will house the National Situation Room and Civil Affairs Office, while Yeomin Building 3 will be home to the National Security Office and Public Relations Office. Some departments will operate out of the newly constructed annex in Changseong-dong.
The Blue House plans to continue its policy of transparent governance by further expanding online live broadcasts and similar initiatives. To broaden communication with the public, the "open studio" previously located inside the Yongsan presidential office will be moved to the Sarangchae, where no separate entry application is required. The Presidential Security Service will also maintain its principles of open and low-profile security, minimizing checks on citizens and vehicles passing in front of the Blue House. The "Daengdaeng Run" running course, shaped like a puppy and stretching from Gwanghwamun through Gyeongbokgung, the Blue House, and Samcheong-dong, will remain open and unchanged.
However, it is expected to take several more months before the president’s residence is relocated. This is due to severe damage sustained during the process of opening the Blue House to the public under former President Yoon Suk-yeol. As a result, President Lee will have to commute the 8 to 9 kilometers from Hannam-dong to the Blue House for the time being. The Presidential Security Service plans to minimize inconvenience to citizens by keeping the number of vehicles in the motorcade and the range of traffic controls to a minimum. Chief Presidential Secretary Kang Hoonshik explained on December 24 that the official residence was severely damaged and difficult to repair, stating, "When I visited, I found that the walls were nearly 1 meter thick, reinforced with steel, and it seems that remodeling will take a long time."
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